New Arcan 3-Ton aluminum/steel hybrid floor jack at Costco

[996GT2]

Just a heads-up for AT members who might be looking for a jack. I picked one up a few weeks ago and it's a very solid unit. Goes from minimum to maximum height (3.75 inches to 18.5 inches) in 7 pumps. Minimum height is stated as 4 inches on the box, but in reality it's more like 3.75 inches. For under $100, it's hard to beat in terms of value for money.

Here's a pic of mine at minimum height:

This is the updated version of the 2.5 ton Arcan HJ2500 that Costco has offered for a few years. The new version is rated for 3 tons and weighs about the same (58 pounds).

It's very similar to this model for sale at Northern Tool: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641772_200641772

It actually might be identical. The difference is the one at NT goes for $199.99, double the price of Costco's Arcan HJ3000.

Here's a picture. Looks very similar to the old HJ2500. The inner silver part is steel, and the outer red part is aluminum.

FWIW, I also looked at many of Harbor Freight's offerings, but I didn't like the 90-day warranty on the HF jacks. Costco offers easy returns on just about all of their items (no time limit), and I find that superior to a 90-day warranty from HF. Arcan also offers their own 12-month warranty.

 

[arcenite]

Which aisle do you find this?

 

[Raizinman]

Keep in mind that 2.5 tons is 5000 pounds. Most vehicles do not weigh 5000 pounds. If you have a large truck or large car, you might need this capacity, but most all Hondas, Toyotas, and other small to medium cars are in the 2500 to 3500 weight range. I mention this because this jack weighs 58 pounds. Picking it up and moving it around is not easy.

On the other hand, if you have a small to medium car, you should be looking for a lighter jack in the range of 1.5 to 2.0 ton (3000 to 4000 pounds). For example, at Harbor Freight you can get an aluminum jack 2.0 tons that weighs 41 pounds (Item number 61406) at $145. With their 20% off coupons deduct about $29.

If you have an even smaller car, you might be able to get by with a 1.5 ton aluminum jack that weighs 31.4 pounds for $69 (Item number 60569). With a 20% coupon, deduct about $13 from the above price. 1.5 tons is 3000 pounds, but if your car is 3100 pounds, note that there is at least a 25% safety factor built into every jack.

 

[996GT2]

Keep in mind that 2.5 tons is 5000 pounds. Most vehicles do not weigh 5000 pounds. If you have a large truck or large car, you might need this capacity, but most all Hondas, Toyotas, and other small to medium cars are in the 2500 to 3500 weight range. I mention this because this jack weighs 58 pounds. Picking it up and moving it around is not easy.

On the other hand, if you have a small to medium car, you should be looking for a lighter jack in the range of 1.5 to 2.0 ton (3000 to 4000 pounds). For example, at Harbor Freight you can get an aluminum jack 2.0 tons that weighs 41 pounds (Item number 61406) at $145. With their 20% off coupons deduct about $29.

If you have an even smaller car, you might be able to get by with a 1.5 ton aluminum jack that weighs 31.4 pounds for $69 (Item number 60569). With a 20% coupon, deduct about $13 from the above price. 1.5 tons is 3000 pounds, but if your car is 3100 pounds, note that there is at least a 25% safety factor built into every jack.

58 lbs is significantly lighter than any steel jack with that weight rating, which are closer to 100 lbs. I actually don't have any issues picking up this jack, especially with the handles on the side.

 

[996GT2]

Which aisle do you find this?

It should be near the tool aisle with the motor oil and other automotive accessories. Not all Costcos carry it yet.

 

[jlee]

Keep in mind that 2.5 tons is 5000 pounds. Most vehicles do not weigh 5000 pounds. If you have a large truck or large car, you might need this capacity, but most all Hondas, Toyotas, and other small to medium cars are in the 2500 to 3500 weight range. I mention this because this jack weighs 58 pounds. Picking it up and moving it around is not easy.

On the other hand, if you have a small to medium car, you should be looking for a lighter jack in the range of 1.5 to 2.0 ton (3000 to 4000 pounds). For example, at Harbor Freight you can get an aluminum jack 2.0 tons that weighs 41 pounds (Item number 61406) at $145. With their 20% off coupons deduct about $29.

If you have an even smaller car, you might be able to get by with a 1.5 ton aluminum jack that weighs 31.4 pounds for $69 (Item number 60569). With a 20% coupon, deduct about $13 from the above price. 1.5 tons is 3000 pounds, but if your car is 3100 pounds, note that there is at least a 25% safety factor built into every jack.

You are never lifting an entire car with a jack, unless somehow you're locating center mass and lifting the whole car off the ground at once. If you do that, plan on dying soon. D:

Using a 3 ton jack is overall far more pleasant than a 1.5 ton. It'll lift the car higher, it'll lift the car easier, and in this case Costco's warranty is unbeatable. The only reason I would use a smaller jack is if it was needed to get underneath a low vehicle (in which case I would prefer a low profile 3 ton) or if I was bringing the jack to an autocross or something.

Also, how many people are seriously carrying a jack around all the time? Mine typically roll around on a concrete floor...I don't go picking them up often at all.

 

[SSSnail]

If you can't move about a 58 lbs jack on wheels, you shouldn't be touching a car at all, let alone work on it.

 

[mvbighead]

Also, how many people are seriously carrying a jack around all the time? Mine typically roll around on a concrete floor...I don't go picking them up often at all.

This, this, and more this. My 'portable' jacks come with the cars I drive. My hope is that I never have to use them. When working on vehicles, I use the previous Arcan, and couldn't be happier. I am fairly sure it is much heavier than the new model, but doesn't bother me in the slightest because I simply drag it around by the handle.

(Just looked it up, XL35R. 3.5 ton capacity and weights over 100lbs.)

 

[996GT2]

This, this, and more this. My 'portable' jacks come with the cars I drive. My hope is that I never have to use them. When working on vehicles, I use the previous Arcan, and couldn't be happier. I am fairly sure it is much heavier than the new model, but doesn't bother me in the slightest because I simply drag it around by the handle.

(Just looked it up, XL35R. 3.5 ton capacity and weights over 100lbs.)

I think the original all-steel XL35R didn't sell well enough at Costco (maybe due to its weight?), so they replaced it with the much lighter (60 pound) 2.5-ton HJ2500. The new 3-ton HJ3000 has an upgraded lifting capacity but is actually a couple of pounds lighter at 58 pounds.

 

[996GT2]

On the other hand, if you have a small to medium car, you should be looking for a lighter jack in the range of 1.5 to 2.0 ton (3000 to 4000 pounds). For example, at Harbor Freight you can get an aluminum jack 2.0 tons that weighs 41 pounds (Item number 61406) at $145. With their 20% off coupons deduct about $29.

The Costco 3-ton jack weighs 58 pounds. The 2-ton Harbor Freight jack you mentioned weighs 41 pounds.

For that 17 pound difference in weight, you're not only paying more to get a jack with less lifting capacity, but you're also giving up Costco's lifetime return policy for Harbor Freight's crappy 90-day warranty on jacks.

If you have an even smaller car, you might be able to get by with a 1.5 ton aluminum jack that weighs 31.4 pounds for $69 (Item number 60569). With a 20% coupon, deduct about $13 from the above price. 1.5 tons is 3000 pounds, but if your car is 3100 pounds, note that there is at least a 25% safety factor built into every jack.

The 1.5 ton HF jack has a max lifting height of just 14 inches, which is insufficient even for small SUVs like a CR-V or RAV4. You won't be able to get the wheels off the ground. I tried to jack up a CR-V once with a jack that maxed out at 14.5 inches, and had to add wooden blocks just to get the tires off the ground when using the center jack point.

 

[mvbighead]

I think the original all-steel XL35R didn't sell well enough at Costco (maybe due to its weight?), so they replaced it with the much lighter (60 pound) 2.5-ton HJ2500. The new 3-ton HJ3000 has an upgraded lifting capacity but is actually a couple of pounds lighter at 58 pounds.

I dunno, there were a LOT of people that loved that jack. it's what led me to it in the first place. But yeah, it definitely is not light by any stretch. Definitely worth it, even at the weight.

 

[Kelvrick]

I have the original all steel version, back when it said 3.5 tons. It has been great, but is probably twice the weight of this one. If I didn't have it, I'd pick this one up no questions for a home use jack.

I have 2 of the harbor freight 1.5 ton versions to bring back and forth to track events and the only time they're used at home is for the random "use a jack to turn the wrench" incident. IF you can afford the extra space to store, go for the costco jack.

 

[Meghan54]

An option that'll probably be rather unpopular here because of price vs. lift capacity:

http://www.amazon.com/OTC-1532-Capa...=UTF8&qid=1452543910&sr=1-1&keywords=OTC+1532


3 1/2" min height, 18" max. lift, 5 pumps to full lift height, very heavy duty construction. But what sold me was the lifetime warranty.

 

[thomsbrain]

Would love to buy a floor jack at Costco due to the return policy, but that isn't nearly low profile enough.

 

[COPOHawk]

An option that'll probably be rather unpopular here because of price vs. lift capacity:

http://www.amazon.com/OTC-1532-Capa...=UTF8&qid=1452543910&sr=1-1&keywords=OTC+1532


3 1/2" min height, 18" max. lift, 5 pumps to full lift height, very heavy duty construction. But what sold me was the lifetime warranty.

This is a great jack...I bought it as a set with the jackstands. I did have a problem where I used it on the front of my Suburban, and fully extended it. When that happened, something happened to the cylinder and I couldn't fully jack it up again.

I called OTC and they did make me ship the jack back...but sent me a brand new one (not refurb). The replacement has been working well ever since...but I don't use it on my Suburban...only on Buick and G8 GXP.

 

[Zivic]

I have bought the blue napa jacks and they have served me well with heavy duty farm use. and are in the 200-300 dollar range.

Not a big fan of the aluminum jacks. had one in the past, didn't make it a year. for home/occasional use, they are probably fine.

 

[996GT2]

Would love to buy a floor jack at Costco due to the return policy, but that isn't nearly low profile enough.

The Costco one measures less than 3.75 inches tall when fully lowered. The 4-inch minimum height rating on the box is conservative IMO.

What kind of car do you drive? Before I bought it, I read some posts on the Lotus forums and owners said it worked fine on their Elises/Exiges.

Here's a picture of mine:

An option that'll probably be rather unpopular here because of price vs. lift capacity:

http://www.amazon.com/OTC-1532-Capa...=UTF8&qid=1452543910&sr=1-1&keywords=OTC+1532


3 1/2" min height, 18" max. lift, 5 pumps to full lift height, very heavy duty construction. But what sold me was the lifetime warranty.

That jack is very similar to the Harbor Freight 2-ton aluminum jack, minus the lifetime warranty. Still, $269 is a lot to pay over the Costco HJ3000 considering Costco's return policy is basically equivalent to a lifetime warranty (probably better, since some companies like to deny warranty service for any reason they can find, or make you pay $$$ to ship a heavy jack back for repair).

 

[michal1980]

An option that'll probably be rather unpopular here because of price vs. lift capacity:

http://www.amazon.com/OTC-1532-Capa...=UTF8&qid=1452543910&sr=1-1&keywords=OTC+1532


3 1/2" min height, 18" max. lift, 5 pumps to full lift height, very heavy duty construction. But what sold me was the lifetime warranty.

This is a great jack...I bought it as a set with the jackstands. I did have a problem where I used it on the front of my Suburban, and fully extended it. When that happened, something happened to the cylinder and I couldn't fully jack it up again.

I called OTC and they did make me ship the jack back...but sent me a brand new one (not refurb). The replacement has been working well ever since...but I don't use it on my Suburban...only on Buick and G8 GXP.

The Costco one measures less than 3.75 inches tall when fully lowered. The 4-inch minimum height rating on the box is conservative IMO.

What kind of car do you drive? Before I bought it, I read some posts on the Lotus forums and owners said it worked fine on their Elises/Exiges.

Here's a picture of mine:

That jack is very similar to the Harbor Freight 2-ton aluminum jack, minus the lifetime warranty. Still, $269 is a lot to pay over the Costco HJ3000 considering Costco's return policy is basically equivalent to a lifetime warranty (probably better, since some companies like to deny warranty service for any reason they can find, or make you pay $$$ to ship a heavy jack back for repair).

I managed to get it for 124 ;-)

http://camelcamelcamel.com/OTC-1532-Capacity-Aluminum-Racing/product/B000XSCEBM

 

[thescreensavers]

I dunno, there were a LOT of people that loved that jack. it's what led me to it in the first place. But yeah, it definitely is not light by any stretch. Definitely worth it, even at the weight.

Also remember it was a seasonal item at virtually all costcos so you couldn't get it certain months of the year.

I bought one in 09 and its still going strong, obv at 100lbs+ its a garage floor jack not a portable jack.

 

[sontakke]

do you have the receipt or Costco part number?

 

[996GT2]

do you have the receipt or Costco part number?

Costco item # is 996603

 

[MongGrel]

Just on a side note, no matter what kind of jack you have I would not get under a vehicle with out blocks under it once it is jacked up.

Might be obvious, but I'm just saying.

 

[Kelvrick]

The Costco one measures less than 3.75 inches tall when fully lowered. The 4-inch minimum height rating on the box is conservative IMO.

What kind of car do you drive? Before I bought it, I read some posts on the Lotus forums and owners said it worked fine on their Elises/Exiges.

Here's a picture of mine:

Sometimes the jack points are further in, creating clearance issues as the jack needs to get in deeper.

 

[Viper GTS]

I went through the research process just a few months ago when the Viper had a flat.

Ended up with this:

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-...vy-duty-floor-jack-with-rapid-pump-68050.html

Which according to general consensus of the internet is a rebadged:

http://www.amazon.com/Arcan-XL2T-Black-Profile-Service/dp/B007G83T16/

At $140 it's hard to beat IMO.

Viper GTS

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Question, not necessarily about this particular jack, but in general. I don't do a lot of work on my vehicles, but I do pull a double axle travel trailer (only for 2 years so far). My concern is with flats on the trailer. Would you guys recommend one of these floor jacks to carry around with me when pulling the trailer in case of a flat? Or is there another alternative? My trailer, if fully loaded (which is rare, I don't even travel with water and pack light usually) is around 6400 lbs.